In the best year for the freight transportation industry since the Great Recession, logistics managers chalk up efficiencies that drive further U.S. economic growth. However, capacity issues persist, causing shippers to worry about rate hikes as carriers continue to be meticulous in their partnerships.

Does your organization struggle with the integration of information between your internal systems, processes and partner portals? You're not alone! Kapow Software alongside EFT has surveyed over 200 organizations regarding the importance of information access, visibility and discusses some of the major goals for supply chain and logistics organizations.

During this webcast we'll explore how supply chain execution convergence (SCEC) helps break down the barriers resulting from disparate, fragmented technology solutions allowing you to more effectively serve customers, adapt to changing business cycles, and save both money and resources.

More than $10 million in counterfeit electronics, stolen merchandise and bank receipts have been recovered as a result of a cargo theft investigation initiated by Los Angeles Port Police.

Counterfeit Apple products have been seized, a downtown Los Angeles counterfeiting operation behind the fake goods was shut down and felony charges have been filed against two suspects.

“There’s often a fine line between goods that are brought here from Asia as legitimate products, and those that have been repackaged to deceive the consumer,” port spokesman, Phillip Sanfield told LM in an interview.

The counterfeit goods included electronics that resembled Apple iPods and iPhones. The electronic devices were shipped from Asia, then falsely labeled and packaged in Los Angeles. The $2.5 million in stolen goods that were recovered include electronics, toys, and blankets stolen from various locations in Los Angeles County and the Inland Empire.

“Our standing as the largest shipping container port in the country is in no small part predicated on the security we can offer our clients,” said Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. “Counterfeiting takes jobs and revenue away from our city’s coveted creative industries and other legitimate businesses and it will not be tolerated.”

“Our layered, multi-agency approach to security and theft investigations led to success in this significant discovery,” said Los Angeles Port Police Chief Ronald Boyd. “We’re proud of the teamwork that happens on a continuous basis to thwart consumer fraud, keep our Port safe and enable our agencies to pursue cases to fruition and criminal prosecution.”

Port Police worked on the investigation as part of the Cargo Theft Interdiction Program (CTIP), a California Highway Patrol initiative that includes participation from Los Angeles Port Police and the City of Vernon Police Department. The counterfeit investigation is being jointly conducted by Homeland Security Investigations (HIS) and Port Police. The Border Enforcement Security Taskforce (BEST), comprised of federal, state and local agencies, also played a role in the investigation.

The case stems from a stolen cargo investigation that led Los Angeles Port Police to several downtown Los Angeles locations in December and January. During searches of the locations, Port Police discovered counterfeit products with an estimated street value of more than $1.4 million, stolen goods worth approximately $2.5 million and bank account receipts that indicate profits from the sale of counterfeit merchandise estimated to be more than $7 million.

About the Author

Patrick BurnsonExecutive Editor

Patrick Burnson is executive editor for Logistics Management and Supply Chain Management Review magazines and web sites. Patrick is a widely-published writer and editor who has spent most of his career covering international trade, global logistics, and supply chain management. He lives and works in San Francisco, providing readers with a Pacific Rim perspective on industry trends and forecasts. You can reach him directly at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

Subscribe to Logistics Management magazine

Subscribe today. It's FREE!

Get timely insider information that you can use to better manage yourentire logistics operation.

Recent Entries

While many industry analysts contend that distribution centers near U.S. East Coast ports will see a surge of new business after the Panama Canal expansion, real estate experts say this phenomena is already underway.

A new Government Accountability Office report on the effects of changes to truck driver hours of service rules has sparked a war of words between the American Trucking Associations and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, the arm of the Transportation Department that is in charge of making those rules.

The Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) reported this week that U.S. trade with its North America Free Trade Agreement partners Canada and Mexico in May dropped 10.8 percent annually to $92.7 billion, following a 6.8 percent annual decline to $93.3 billion in April.

Rumors of transportation and logistics titan UPS acquiring Chicago-based transportation management services provider Coyote Logistics for $1.8 billion have become a reality, with UPS announcing today that the deal is now official.